Equilibrium-retaining device for flying-machines.



A.P.W;MAGMANU& EQUILIBRIUM RBTAINING DEVICE POR FLYING MACHINES.APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

FW. Macmamw,

UNITED sra'rns PATENT 1carica.

AUGUSTUS FREDERICK WATSON MACMANiUS, F SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNORvOFONE-FOURTH TO M. E. MACMANUS, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS.

EoUILIBRIUM-nn'rarmue Duvicn reassured-MACHINES.

speciation of Letters Patent.-

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

.appiieatioamea March e, 1911. f, serial No. 612,468.

tication.

My invention relates to` heavier-than-airv flying machines andpartlcularly to auto matic means for retaining the equilibrium` of thesame during flight.

.Y My invention contemplatesthe provision of a plane or glidingstructure with openings formed therethrough near the ends j ture tiltsthe valve near rmains closed, while the valve near the higher thereof,which openings have the passage of air through the same controlled byvalves. These valves are adapted to automatically opeii and. close,vthus when the gliding structhe lower end re ,end 'opens to reduce theresistance of that end `of the gliding structure, whereby it isloweredto its .normal horizont-al position. Both valves remain closedwhen. the gliding structure is in its normal horizontal position.

An important object of this invention is to provide a gliding structurewith Iequilibrium retaining means, which means are simple inconstruction, and positiveand automatic in operation.

Other `objects and advantages of this invent-ion will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings 'forming a` pa`.rrto: f l thisspecification and in which like nume'gls are employed 'to designate likeparts throughout the same, Figure`1 isja plan view ot a plane or glidingstructure, equipped with my equilibrium retaining valves, Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the plane orgliding structure being tilted, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectionalview through a portion of the plane or gliding structure aud one of theequilibrium retaining valves, and, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of oneof the equilibrium retaining valves.

In the drawings wherein is preferred 'embodiment of my invention, aplane or gliding structure is shown, comprising a preferably rectangularframe formed of longitudinal and transverse strips and2.,-frespectively.

. invention is applied.` to` a biplane,

illustrated a horizontal position,

` This frame is covered with canvas 3 or other suitable material, vwhich may be attached to the trame by any desired means. This plane orgliding structure is designedtoform the body plane oi an aeroplane, andis disposed transversely to the course of Hight, as illustrated in theWright Brothers iiying machine. When my two oi" thefplanes showntin Fig.-1 `are employed. The invention is also adapted to be used. inconnection ,with a monoplane, or the same may be used in connection witha horizontal rudder, and inkfact, with anyplane or gliding structurewhich` it is desired to prevent from tilting.

v The plane or gliding structure is provided near its ends with openings4 and 5 `formed therethrough, within which are mounted swinging valves 6and 6a. These valves are alike, s0 a description of one will answer 'forboth. Each of the valves 6 and 6a is formed of a rectangularpen trame 7,comprising side strips 8 and 9, L-shaped in cross-section. 8 and-9 areinverted with relation to each other,=that is to say, the horizontaltlauge of the strip 8 is adjacent the lower side thereof, while thehorizontal flange ot the strip 9 is adjacent the` upper. side thereof.In both valves 6 and 6a the strips 9 are the inner andthe strips 8 arethe outer. The pairs of transverse strips `2 disposed adjacent and upon6 and 6, are -Lshaped in cross-section, the strips in each-pair beinginverted with re- -lationto veach other to cooperate with the strips 8yand 9. Each of the valves 6 and 6a further comprises a. strip 10,disposed centrally Within and rigidly connected with the frame 7. Theend strips of the frame 7 carry pins 11, disposed i midway the endsthereof, which engage strips 12, disposed at right angles to and rigidlyconnected with the strips 2. Each of the valves 6i and 6 has rigidconnection with a depending ball or weight 13, through the medium` of arigid rod 14, which is rigidly connected with the strip 10. Each of theframes 7 is coveredl with canvas or the like.

In the opera-tion of my device, whenV the plane or gliding structure istilted to raise the left end thereof, as shown in Figi., the weight 13"iw The side strips ill retain the valve 6 inH its whereby the opening4;

which are substantially 1`5 vent the tiltingof Athe -tures connectedwith said f 4 0 lvalve as 'from its'normal'fposition wi vwillvloe partlyuncovered'to reduce the resistance 4ofthis end of the plane. The valveGaf-near the ldwer end of the plane will remain .fseated and held insuch ,'position by 4a reversefdirection the valve 6iL is unseatedand'ftle 'valve 6 held seated. My valves may also be used to prevent thetiltin plane upon its longitudinal axis ore and aft with'relation to thecourse of flight of the machine. These valves will then be disposedatthe central transverse' axis of the plane and will swing at rightangles to the way, in which they swingv when'used to preplanetransversely to therline of iiight.` Y

I wish it understood that the form of my 'invention herewith shown anddescribed is vto be jt'aken as a preferred example lof the,

v Samar-and' thatcel'tainy changes in the shape, size andarrangemento'fparts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spiriteffmyinvention -or the scope of the lsub- ,joined claims.-

Having -.thus fully described my I invention, I claim:-

1. In afflying machine, havingopenings formed disposed y a gliding lstruture therethroughdand a direction transversely to' the line lf' Hight,valvespivotally mounted within 41n s ipa lefofnoscillating in one'dirtion only from their normal positionswith relation vto saidglidingStructure, and l ,u dant' strucv 2; In a flying machine, a structurevhaving en opening {formed/,th/rehrough, a

pivotedwithin the o /jning/fto/c 4{npletely close thvv same andorrfn/jneif 't a continuation off Iid gliding-st actu-ge( said valvebeing so constructedl th't,the1 ame is capable of oscillating in oneonly i 1/ 'relation `to structure, and a ypendant 'st-rucsaid i glidingture connected with said. valvet 3. In. a flying" machinel'of thecharacter described, a gliding structure having an opening formedtherethrough, a valve disposed withinthe opening and pivotally connectedwith said gliding structure, the walls of the opening and the valvebeing so conplane' is tilted in upon opposite sides-. of the axis 30l,about which said gliding's'tructure. tilts in dopen-4 ;and soqconstructed that 'the are ca-fv Walls of said opening having portionsthereof fcut away, `a swinging valve disposed within the. opening andhaving its opposite side walls cut away to coperate with the first namedcut away Walls, whereby the gliding structure is capable Vof having arelative/oscillato'ry movement` with relation to the valve upon tiltingin one directiononly.

5. A gliding struct-ureprovided with ariopening formed therethrough,opposite wallsof said opening being p'ro-vided,I with cut-out portions',a ,swingingvalve disposed `hz'ithin the opening and having its oppositesdbe wallsl provided with cut-outportions' to c 'perate with the firstnamed walls, whereby the gliding structure is capable of `having arelative oscillatory vInti-vement with" relation to the valve upontilting 'in'one direction only, .and a weight disposed below'a'ndyconnected with sai'dvalve.

16. Ina iying machine, Ia'g'vliding,struct re h avlingl an openingformed theret, rough, a valve pivoted within theopening t'o close thesame and form in eilecta' con ltinuation of the gliding st-ructur e,saidvalve having'the axis upon which the same turns disposed midway of itsends'to equalize the pressure upon said valve on opposite-sides o f saidaxis, said valve being so'constructedql g "one", direction only from ltsnormal, posithat the same is capable of Aoscillatingfin tionwithrelation to said gliding'stru`ct ure, and a pendant structure connectedwith the valve. v '4 In testimony whereof I aiiix my `signature inpresence of two witnesses..

AUGUSTUS EREDER'ICK WATSON hammam.`-

Witnesses:' y I LOUIS DREIss,

